The US says it will deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials wishing to travel to New York next month to attend the UN General Assembly session. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed them for undermining peace efforts and for seeking 'the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state'. The decision is unusual - the US, as host country, is expected to facilitate travel for officials of all countries wishing to visit the UN headquarters. The ban comes as France spearheads international efforts to recognise a state of Palestine at the GA session. Donald Trump's administration has fully backed Israel in voicing opposition to such a move.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has constantly rejected the idea of a two-state solution - the long-time international formula to resolve the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. He argues that recognition of a Palestinian state would reward 'Hamas's monstrous terrorism'. In response to a recent Hamas attack, the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza, leading to significant casualties. The backdrop of these developments raises questions about the viability of peace and the potential for renewed international negotiations.